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Losing Your Life - Losing Your Job

© Lee Brown

When you open the door in the morning to leave for work, don't you expect that your job will be there when you get there? I don't believe this is too much to ask for. What do you do if it isn't?

In reading the Denver Post the other day, I read about a gentleman who worked for a trucking company. He went into work the morning of May 20th and his employer told him to gather any personal articles he may have in his truck because the company had just declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This news blew him out of the water. There was no warning to such bad news. In fact, from the information rumored through the office, the company had been experiencing several record income days. How can a company making nearly a half a billion dollars a year suddenly take out bankruptcy.

The news was bad enough for this fellow, but how does he go home to his five children, one of which is mentally handicapped, and both parents who live with him (due to health issues) and explain he has just lost his job. He is the sole income in his family. He has been working for the company for over 20 years. How does he cope?

This particular article is being written with this fellow in mind. Coping with the loss of a job can be extremely stressful. When a person has worked in the same career for over 20 years and knows only this field, what is their next option? Career change, unemployment -- these are sometimes the only options a person can see.

I would suggest a couple more options that are available: Retraining is the first. Have you been in the same career for so long that you have pigeon-holed yourself? Learn a new trade. It's never too late. Spread out your horizon and find something that you already enjoy to help bring in some money.

The second option I would suggest is self employment. The best way to have control over your own life is to be your own boss. Self employment has its drawbacks, such as finding something that others are willing to pay you for. However, once you find something and make it go, you can run with it.

The last option would be retirement. The gentleman I spoke about earlier had been putting funds away for retirement into a health and welfare fund supplied by his company. However, with the company now defunked, his retirement is lost as well. Or is it? Check with your local social security office and find out what your options are. Find out if you can take an early or even a medical retirement.